One of the hardest things about being wedding photographers is keeping our eyes dry when we see couples finally get to tie the knot. Since we get to know every couple and make sure we’re compatible, we form bonds with them, and seeing them go from potential clients to engaged friends to newlyweds hits us in the heart every time. Katherine and Chase’s wedding definitely got us teary-eyed!
One teary-eyed moment was completely on us, though. Jo’s trusty stepstool has seen us through countless engagements, plenty of weddings, and thousands of snapshots, from 45-degree inclines in Sedona to 30-degree desert slopes in Papago Park… until it finally gave out. Rest in peace, our dearest stepstool. It didn’t put a hamper on the day’s festivities, however–those began early!
Katherine’s wedding day started with a sisterhood cocktail hour. Surrounded with her sisters, best friends, and her mother, Katherine shared mimosas while the stylist put the finishing touches on everyone’s beautiful hair and immaculate makeup. A deep red lipstick was an amazing accent with Katherine’s porcelain skin and dark hair.
Sipping drinks and lounging in silk robes was the perfect start of such an important day. Katherine and some of the most important women in her life swapped inside jokes and cracked up about how weird it can be to laugh for photos–there was no trace of wedding jitters, just loved ones preparing for a great time. With such a close bridal party helping Katherine with her dress, it was clear that Katherine and Chase have a strong support network.
It wasn’t all on Katherine’s side, though: Chase’s group made it clear that they loved him just as much. With dear friends shooting the breeze, Chase seemed just as relaxed as his bride-to-be. Chase managed to sneak a moment away from the guys for himself, for deep breaths and centering thoughts. He and Katherine had decided on private vows, and he took that minute of solitude to peek into the words Katherine had prepared for him. He read silently, save for the barest rustle of paper. His carefree expression was replaced with one of intense love, a hint of tears in his eyes, the words Katherine privately shared reaffirming the vows they’d be taking shortly. The group shared a good-luck shot to send Chase off with hope and joy and the faith that his marriage would be long and beautiful.
With the support of their wedding party, Katherine and Chase headed for the altar. Boojum Tree Hidden Gardens is a true Phoenix gem, a sprawling series of gardens that added Katherine and Chase to its list of Arizonans it has touched. The photos don’t do it justice, stone fountains and verdant trees making something mesmerizing yet whimsical. It reflected the lively, playful, rooted love Katherine and Chase share: the perfect desert wedding venue for them.
The sun peeked through the soaring boughs, casting glowing beams across the giant fountain where Chase was waiting for Katherine. When Katherine walked down the aisle, there wasn’t a dry eye in the garden–even the officiant held back tears when Katherine clasped Chase’s hands in her own, overwhelmed with excitement and happiness and romance, the kiss a culmination of everything that lead up to it.
Vows taken and the union sealed with a kiss, it was time to move for the reception. Sweeping trees became twisting, twirling vines along the side of Boojum Tree’s greenhouse hall, their green a gorgeous complement to the dusty blue and deep red Katherine and Chase had chosen for their colors. When the guests were seated, Katherine’s father and Chase’s mother celebrated their newly wedded loved ones with earnest words. The heartfelt speeches made it clear how close these two are to their families, and they shared a common message: true love is something you hope your kid will find from the moment they come into your world, no matter what form that love takes. Katherine and Chase have that true love.
As the evening went on, it was obvious that they were happy, so much so that it seemed to overwhelm them in the best of ways. Katherine definitely snuck Chase a tissue or two during their parents’ speeches, and when her sister stood to speak, her sister immediately started crying, repeatedly telling everyone that she didn’t know why. It brought laughter to the room alongside the happy tears, Katherine herself chuckling through her crying.
The impact that Katherine and Chase’s commitment to one another is wide-reaching. From Katherine’s father to her sister to Chase’s mother and closest friends, the bond these two share stretches far beyond them. It’s brought so much joy to those they’ve met, happiness that was apparent even as Katherine and Chase departed amid a cascade of sparks.
Katherine and Chase have a love to remember. We’re lucky to have been a part of it.
Congrats, you guys!
Love,
Jo + Alli
